The Real Deal on Cholesterol Drugs

Find out the facts behind the hype surrounding cholesterol drugs.

Earlier this year, we learned that the cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin wasn’t as powerful as we once thought. Turns out, the drug, a combination of Zetia and the statin Zocor, lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol more than Zocor alone but doesn’t reduce plaque in the arteries. Does this mean you should skip Zetia and Vytorin? Not necessarily.

•The Good
Zetia doesn’t seem to prevent plaque from rupturing (statins do) but can help people at high risk if statins, diet and exercise don’t lower LDL below 100.

•The Not So Good
Zetia may decrease HDL (good) cholesterol, so it’s often not the best choice for people over 60, as there’s no great benefit for them in lowering LDL if they don’t raise HDL.

•Other Options
Drugs alone aren’t the answer. When you cut back on simple carbs and saturated fat, your LDL has fewer of the toxic by-productsthat can lead to a heart attack.

•Bottom Line
This was just one study, so talk to your doctor about what’s right for you before you stop taking these or any drugs.